5 MORE Must-See Attractions In Downtown Gatlinburg
By Leif Palmer
Posted on July 7, 2021
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, has been a tourist attraction for decades, dating all the way back to the early days of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's a small charming hamlet tucked away in the folds of the foothills, but over the years, it's grown quite a bit. Today, the town boasts literally hundreds of businesses that cater to tourists, including hotels and motels, restaurants and retail shops.
Some of the most popular Gatlinburg destinations are attractions-places where visitors of all ages (usually) can spend an hour or so and enjoy a unique, entertaining or even thrilling experience in the Smokies. Back in January, we introduced you to five must-see attractions in downtown Gatlinburg: the Gatlinburg Space Needle, Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Hollywood Star Cars Museum, Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Odditorium and Hillbilly Golf.
In this post, we're going to introduce you to five more attractions located on or near the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg that you should make a point of visiting on your next trip to town (if you haven't been there already). And remember that if you're driving your own vehicle and you're looking for convenient and affordable parking lots, Gatlinburg actually offers plenty of downtown options. Just check the map on our website to find the one that suits you best.
Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster
This unique family-friendly thrill ride curves and winds its way through the woods and down the mountain. It runs on a track like a regular roller coaster, but you can control your speed with a handbrake, whether you're riding in a single or double cart.
Ripley's Haunted Adventure
This is the place to go to get spooked year 'round. You don't have to wait for Halloween to tour this house of horrors, where new scares and frights lurk around every corner. Enter if you dare…
Appalachian Ghostwalks
Speaking of spooky chills, this business conducts ghost- and history-themed walking tours of downtown Gatlinburg. It's a great mix of true history with ghost stories about the city and the Great Smoky Mountains region.
Rowdy Bear Mountain Adventure Park
This attraction offers two ways to have fun and be outdoors this summer, including a traditional alpine coaster and what they bill as the world's first mountain glider. It's a single-railed coaster that allows you to fly, while seated, through the treetops, suspended from the rail.
Ripley's Moving Theater
This multidimensional theater allows you to feel every bump, dip, turn, blast of wind and more as you immerse yourself in a screened experience that will make you feel as if you're actually part of the action.
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in Gatlinburg. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.